Sightseeing

1. Hoe kom ik bij het Rijksmuseum?

   How do I get to the Rijksmuseum?

   Usage

   Asking for directions to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam

   Grammar Note

   "Hoe kom ik bij ...?" is the standard phrasing for "How do I get to ...?"

2. Hoeveel kost toegang?

   How much does admission cost?

   Usage

   Asking for the admission price at a museum or attraction

   Grammar Note

   "Toegangsprijs" is the compound for admission price. "Gratis toegang" means free admission

3. Kunt u een foto van ons maken?

   Could you take a photo of us?

   Usage

   Asking a passerby to take a group photo at a tourist spot

   Grammar Note

   "Een foto maken" = to take a photo ("foto nemen" is an English-style calque; "maken" is the standard verb). "Mag ik een foto maken?" asks permission to photograph

4. Hoe lang duurt de rondleiding?

   How long does the guided tour take?

   Usage

   Asking for the duration of a guided tour

   Grammar Note

   "Duren" shares origin with "duration". "Rondleiding" = rond (around) + leiding (guidance)

5. Is er een audiotour beschikbaar?

   Is there an audio tour available?

   Usage

   Asking about audio guide availability at a museum or historic site

   Grammar Note

   "Beschikbaar" means available. "Is er ... beschikbaar?" is a useful question structure

6. Wanneer sluit het museum?

   When does the museum close?

   Usage

   Asking for the museum's closing time

   Grammar Note

   "Sluiten" means to close. Pair with "Wanneer opent het museum?" (When does it open?)

7. Heeft u een plattegrond van de stad?

   Do you have a city map?

   Usage

   Requesting a city map from a tourist information center

   Grammar Note

   "Plattegrond" = plat (flat) + grond (ground). "Kaart" also means map in Dutch

8. Wat is de beroemdste bezienswaardigheid hier?

   What is the most famous attraction here?

   Usage

   Asking a local about the top tourist attraction in the area

   Grammar Note

   "Bezienswaardigheid" means literally "worthiness of being seen". Plural: bezienswaardigheden

9. Mag ik hier foto's maken?

   Am I allowed to take photos here?

   Usage

   Asking permission to take photographs at a museum or attraction

   Grammar Note

   "Foto's" is plural. "Mag ik" is first person of "mogen". Note "Fotograferen verboden" = no photography

10. Is er een korting voor studenten?

    Is there a student discount?

    Usage

    Asking about student discounts at museums or tourist attractions

    Grammar Note

    Replace "studenten" with "senioren" (seniors) or "kinderen" (children) for other discounts

11. Hoe ver is het naar Delft?

    How far is it to Delft?

    Usage

    Asking the distance to Delft, famous for Delftware pottery

    Grammar Note

    "Hoe ver is het naar ...?" is the standard distance question. Delft is known for Delftware pottery

12. Is er een grachtenrondvaart beschikbaar?

    Is there a canal boat tour available?

    Usage

    Asking about canal boat tours in Amsterdam

    Grammar Note

    "Grachtenrondvaart" = grachten (canals) + rondvaart (circular cruise). Typical Dutch compound

13. Hoe kom ik bij het Binnenhof?

    How do I get to the Binnenhof?

    Usage

    Asking for directions to the Binnenhof, the Dutch parliament building in The Hague

    Grammar Note

    "Binnenhof" = binnen (inner) + hof (court/yard). Center of Dutch politics since the 13th century

14. Veel musea zijn op maandag gesloten

    Many museums are closed on Mondays

    Usage

    Useful information when planning museum visits (some, like the Rijksmuseum, are open daily, so check first)

    Grammar Note

    "Op maandag" means "on Monday"; in opening-hours information it is also used habitually. To stress "every Monday" say "maandags" or "op maandagen". "Musea" is the plural of "museum"

15. Ik wil graag het Anne Frank Huis bezoeken

    I would like to visit the Anne Frank House

    Usage

    Planning a visit to the Anne Frank House, a historic museum in Amsterdam

    Grammar Note

    "Bezoeken" means to visit. The Anne Frank House requires advance ticket booking

16. De Keukenhof is prachtig in de lente

    The Keukenhof is magnificent in spring

    Usage

    Describing the famous tulip garden Keukenhof, open in spring

    Grammar Note

    "Keukenhof" = keuken (kitchen) + hof (court/garden). Open only in spring (March–May)

17. De windmolens in Kinderdijk zijn beroemd

    The windmills at Kinderdijk are famous

    Usage

    Talking about the iconic windmills of Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage site

    Grammar Note

    "Windmolen" = wind + molen (mill). Kinderdijk is a UNESCO World Heritage site

18. Het Van Gogh Museum is een aanrader

    The Van Gogh Museum is a must-visit

    Usage

    Recommending the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam

    Grammar Note

    "Aanrader" is the noun of "aanraden" (to recommend). Dutch: "Van Gogh" is pronounced "van khokh"

19. Ik wil de grachten van Amsterdam zien

    I want to see the canals of Amsterdam

    Usage

    Expressing a desire to visit Amsterdam's famous canal district

    Grammar Note

    "Gracht" comes from Middle Dutch for "dug canal". Amsterdam's canal ring is a UNESCO site

20. Maastricht is een prachtige stad

    Maastricht is a magnificent city

    Usage

    Describing Maastricht, a historic city in the south, often called one of the oldest in the Netherlands

    Grammar Note

    "Maastricht" means crossing of the Maas river. Famous for the Maastricht Treaty (EU, 1992)

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